Prize-winning international pianist performing at WSU

Peter Amstutz, an internationally acclaimed pianist and professor of piano at West Virginia University, will perform a guest artist recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, in Wiedemann Recital Hall at Wichita State University.

Tickets are $7 with discounts available through the College of Fine Arts Box Office, (316) 978-3233 or www.wichita.edu/fineartsboxoffice.

The program will feature Hungarian Rhapsody No. 3 by Franz Liszt; Sechs Bagatellen, Op. 126 by Ludwig van Beethoven; “Long Ago,” an improvisation composed by Amstutz; Pavane and Galliard (Earle of Salisbury) by William Byrd; The Garden of Eden (Four Rags for Piano) by William Bolcom; and finish will Beethoven’s Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111.

Prizewinning pianist

Amstutz, who also coordinates keyboard studies at West Virginia, is a prizewinner in the Maryland International Piano Competition (subsequently renamed in honor of William Kapell) and medalist in the Casagrande International Piano Competition in Italy. He has performed throughout Europe and the United States.

In recent years, he has also made frequent tours of Asia, presenting recitals and master classes in major cities of Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Peoples Republic of China. He has also served as judge for the National Piano Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and for the William S. Boyd International Piano Competition.

As a student at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Amstutz earned his Master of Arts in music and Doctorate of Arts in music as a student of Leon Fleisher, and his Bachelor of Arts in music with Walter Hautzig. As a Fulbright Scholar, he also studied in Austria for two years with Dieter Weber and Noel Flores at the Vienna Academy of Music.

Critical acclaim for his performances include The New York Times (“Sweetly singing tone …”), the Denver Post (“Crisp, crystalline touch … a joyous performance”), the Edinburgh, Scotland Evening News (“Fresh and stylish … a fine performance”) and the Saarbruecken, Germany Saarbruecker Zeitung (“A great talent … unforgettable”).

Prior to joining the West Virginia faculty in 1988, Amstutz taught at the University of Colorado and at Oklahoma State University, where he received that institution’s highest prize for individual faculty members, the Burlington-Northern Faculty Achievement Award.